“So I had to start sending her to day care a couple mornings a week so I could actually concentrate on school,” she recalled.

Ballan, who discovered she wants to pursue a career in nursing, will be continuing her studies into the summer, when she’ll take an anatomy course before entering the practical nursing program this fall.

“You want to be a good role model for your kid,” Ballan said.

“She’s the reason I’m here today . . . I don’t think I wouldn’t have gone back to school if it wasn’t for her.”

Last week’s convocation also happened to be the first webcasted ceremony from the local campus.

Madder said he thinks the idea of a webcast is great because it allows anyone to watch the ceremony.

“This gives people the chance to see what’s going on even if they aren’t here tonight,” he remarked.

“There are people within the college watching but also other places in the world, too.”

The local class joined more than 1,450 students from other Confederation College campuses who graduated this year.

Sara Gerber took home the most awards, including the academic award of excellence and the campus award of excellence.